Los Angeles Angels - TeamReport

For a long stretch of this season, hitters could see Ervin Santana's slider coming. But no one could see this coming.

Santana has morphed from the problem child of the Angels' rotation at midseason into the most dependable starter in a rotation that has been in a six-week downward spiral.

The erratic right-hander held the Red Sox scoreless for five innings Tuesday and allowed just two runs in 6 1/3 innings of the Angels' 5-3 victory. The Angels won just five of Santana's first 19 starts this season as he fell to 4-10 with a 6.00 ERA in late July.

In five starts since then, however, he is 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA and the Angels have won each game.

"We saw it in Ervin. We saw the potential he has," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was just on a tough roll where he really didn't have a lot that he was going out there to compete with. But Ervin's done it before. We've seen him bounce back after some tough starts in seasons.

"The run that he had that was tough was a little longer than we'd seen. But we have a lot of confidence in him ... and he's shown (why) these last couple starts."

Scioscia attributes Santana's rebound to some "subtle adjustments that have had a huge impact," related primarily to "a release-point issue" that had flattened out his slider and robbed him of fastball command. Santana just shakes his head when asked what adjustments he made to turn around his season.

--OF Mike Trout played in his 100th game of the season Tuesday (and his first game at Fenway Park). He went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Angels' 5-3 win over the Red Sox. Only one player since 1900 has scored more runs than Trout (97) in the first 100 games of his rookie season. Joe DiMaggio scored 100 runs in the first 100 games of his rookie season in 1936.

Trout was caught stealing in the ninth inning after drawing a walk. That snapped a streak of 30 successful steal attempts dating to June 4. The streak is a club record and Trout is one of only three AL players since 2000 to have a streak of 30 or more successful steals. Ichiro Suzuki was successful on 39 consecutive steals in 2006 and Carl Crawford on 30 in 2009.

--1B Albert Pujols was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single in Tuesday's win. Pujols has six hits in his past 17 at-bats and 29 RBI over his past 26 games.

--RHP Jered Weaver has lost his past two starts, his first back-to-back losses since May 2011. His next start will be Wednesday at Fenway Park, where he has a 1-3 record and 7.16 ERA in six career starts, his highest ERA at any stadium. Overall, Weaver is 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA in 11 starts against the Red Sox.

--OF Mark Trumbo showed signs of breaking from his month-long slump with a single and a two-run home run Tuesday. The homer was only his fourth extra-base hit in his past 30 games (all home runs). It was his 30th homer of the season; 18 have been hit on the road. Only Adam Dunn has hit more home runs on the road this season (22 of 36).

BY THE NUMBERS: 40-20 -- Angels' record when their starting pitcher retires at least one batter in the seventh inning.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't pinpoint one thing. This just feels more like my swing when things are going well. I always try to drive the ball. But maybe I'd been a little too aggressive. I tried to tone it down a bit." -- OF Mark Trumbo on breaking out of a month-long slump with a home run and single Tuesday.

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MLB Team Report - Los Angeles Angels - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--LHP Scott Downs (left shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 28. He began a throwing program Aug. 6, and he played long toss Aug. 7. He threw off a mound Aug. 12, and he threw a simulated inning Aug. 14. Downs threw another bullpen session and simulated inning Aug. 16 and was activated from the DL on Aug. 18.

--RHP Jordan Walden (right biceps strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 9. He threw a bullpen session Aug. 6. He made rehab appearances for Class AAA Salt Lake on Aug. 11, Aug. 13 and Aug. 16, and he was activated from the DL on Aug. 19.

--OF Jeremy Moore (left hip surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 13.

--RHP Michael Kohn (flexor strain in right arm) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 21. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery April 12.